Objective: To establish a high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method for determining the serum concentration of swertiamain in acute liver damage rat and to investigate pharmacokinetics of swertiamain. Method: The model of acute liver damage rat was established by D-galactosamine(D-GIaN) 400 mg·kg-1 intraperitoneal injection. After the rats were administered by DIGEDA-4 decoction

HPLC was used to determine the serum concentration of swertiamain at different times; Winnonlin 5: 1 procedure was used to calculate concentration-time data and pharmacokinetic parameters. Result: The linearity were ranged from 0.15-4.8 μg·L-1 (r=0.998 9) and the average recovery was higher than 80%. Methodology investigation was all complied with the requirements. After oral administration of DIGEDA-4 decoction

the T1/2 was similar

the relationship between dose and AUC showed good linearity. Conclusion: The swertiamain was fitted to be a two-compartment model in acute liver damage rat. The method described in this report was accurate and has high sensitivity and selectivity which can be used to analyze quantitatively the serum concentration of swertiamain of the DIGEDA-4 decoction.